Description

The Penalty (Goldwyn, 1920). One Sheet (27" X 41").
Lon Chaney's performance in The Penalty is viewed today as
one of his very best. This highly elusive stone litho one sheet
features Chaney as the bitter double amputee, "Blizzard," with the
beautiful Claire Adams, for whom he is to model as "Satan." Adams
is the sculptress daughter of the doctor that wrongly amputated his
legs when Blizzard was a youth. Director Wallace Worsley, working
with Chaney for the first time, would make a total of five features
with the actor over the next three years, including The
Hunchback of Notre Dame. This was Chaney's first truly gruesome
starring role (the small part in Miracle Man aside). The
legendary stories of Chaney's make-up genius fill books, and this
was one of his best creations. With little more than leather straps
and stays, he created a totally believable body harness, wearing an
apparatus so painful, Chaney could only film in ten minute
intervals. Touchup was only required to address pinholes in the
borders and background. Very Fine on Linen.